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triumphs more sublime
Await thee yet！ I； Jenny Lind； who reigned Sublimely throned； the imperial queen of song； Wooed by thy golden harmonies； have deigned Captive to join the heterogeneous throng。
Sustained by an unfaltering trust in coin； Dealt from thy hand； O thou illustrious man； Gladly I heard the summons come to join Myself the immeasurable caravan。
A number of complimentary greetings in verse were also sent in to Miss Lind by various writers of more or less eminence； among them being the following from Mrs。 Lydia H。 Sigourney：
THE SWEDISH SONGSTRESS AND HER CHARITIES。
BY MRS。 L。 H。 SIGOURNEY。
Blest must their vocation be Who； with tones of melody； Charm the discord and the strife And the railroad rush of life；
And with Orphean magic move Souls inert to life and love。 But there's one who doth inherit Angel gift and angel spirit； Bidding tides of gladness flow Through the realms of want and woe； 'Mid lone age and misery's lot； Kindling pleasures long forgot； Seeking minds oppressed with night； And on darkness shedding light； She the seraph's speech doth know； She hath done their deeds below； So； when o'er this misty strand She shall clasp their waiting hand； They will fold her to their breast； More a sister than a guest。
The first concert was announced for the evening of September 11th； and it was to take place in the great hall of Castle Garden； afterward famous as the landing…place for emigrants at New York。 The tickets for this occasion were sold at auction； and the first one was bid up to the extraordinary figure of 225。 This was bid and the ticket was secured by John N。 Genin； a hatter； and the public notice which was thereby attracted to him was such a great advertisement for his business that within a few years thereafter he amassed a fortune。 It was afterward stated that Mr。 Genin was Barnum's brother…in…law； and that his high bid for this ticket was a pre…arranged job； but there was no truth in this whatever。 The auction itself was regarded as an occasion of such public interest that the proprietors of the Garden； where it was held； charged a shilling admission fee to it。 No less than 3；000 persons paid this fee and attended the auction； and the first day's sale aggregated 1；000 tickets； which brought a total sum of 10；141。
A few days after her arrival Barnum told Miss Lind that it would be desirable to make a change in the terms of their contract； if she would consent。 She was startled at this； and asked him what the change was to be。 〃I am convinced；〃 replied Barnum； 〃that this enterprise will be far more successful than either of us anticipated。 So I wish to stipulate that you shall receive not only 1；000 for each concert； beside all expenses； but also that； after taking out 5；500 per night for expenses and for my services； the balance shall be equally divided between you and me。〃
She looked at him in utter bewilderment； unable to understand his proposition。 He repeated it； and at last made her realize what it was that he proposed to do。 Then she grasped him by the hand and exclaimed： 〃Mr。 Barnum； you are a gentleman of honor； you are generous； it is just as I was told。 I will sing for you as long as you please。 I will sing for you in Americain Europeanywhere！〃
The day before the first concert Mr。 Barnum told Miss Lind that； judging by appearances； her portion of the proceeds of the first concert； over and above her fee of 1；000； would amount to at least 10；000。 She immediately resolved to devote every dollar of it to charity； and forthwith sent for the Mayor of the city； under whose advice she acted in selecting the various institutions among which it was to be distributed。
The amount of money actually received for tickets for the first concert was 17；864。05。 So it appeared that Barnum's estimate had been a little too high； and Miss Lind's portion was too small to realize the 10；000 which she was to give to charity。 Barnum therefore proposed to make a similar arrangement for the second concert； and to count neither of these first two in the regular engagement。 To this she agreed。 The second concert was given on September 13th； and the receipts； which amounted to 14；203。03； were disposed of as before； and she was thus enabled to give the 10；000 to charity。 The third concert； which was the first of the regular series； was given on September 17th。
Barnum's arrangements of the concert…room for the singer's appearance were very complete。 One hundred ushers； adorned with rosettes and carrying wands tipped with ribbons； looked after the seating of the audience。 In order to prevent confusion the doors were opened at five o'clock； although the concert was not to commence until eight。 The result was that the five thousand persons who attended made their entry without crowding and without confusion。
The reception of Jenny Lind； on her first appearance； in point of enthusiasm； was probably never before equalled。 As Mr。 Benedict led her towards the footlights； the entire audience rose to their feet and welcomed her with three cheers； accompanied by the waving of thousands of hats and handkerchiefs。 This was perhaps the largest audience to which Jenny Lind had ever sung。 She was evidently much agitated； but the orchestra commenced； and before she had sung a dozen notes of 〃Casta Diva；〃 she began to recover her self…possession； and long before the scena was concluded she was as calm as if she was in her own drawing…room。 Towards the last portion of the cavatina； the audience were so completely carried away by their feelings； that the remainder of the air was drowned in a perfect tempest of acclamation。 Enthusiasm had been wrought to its highest pitch； but the musical powers of Jenny Lind exceeded all the brilliant anticipations which had been formed； and her triumph was complete。 At the conclusion of the concert Jenny Lind was loudly called for； and was obliged to appear three times before the audience could be satisfied。 Then they called vociferously for 〃Barnum；〃 and he 〃reluctantly〃 responded to their demand。
On this first night Julius Benedict firmly established with the American people his European reputation as a most accomplished conductor and musical composer； while Signor Belletti inspired an admiration which grew warmer and deeper in the minds of the public； to the end of his career in this country。
〃The Rubicon was passed；〃 says Barnum。 〃The successful issue of the Jenny Lind enterprise was established。 I think there were a hundred men in New York； the day after her first concert； who would have willingly paid me 200；000 for my contract。 I received repeated offers for an eighth； a tenth； or a sixteenth； equivalent to that price。 But mine had been the risk； and I was determined mine should be the triumph。〃
The triumph of Jenny Lind is a legitimate part of Barnum's history； and it will be of interest to the present generation to read what the musical critics of that day thought of that wonderful singer。 Here is the New York Tribune's account of her opening concerts in America：
〃Jenny Lind's first concert is over； and all doubts are at an end。 She is the greatest singer we have ever heard and her success is